Down in the dumps? Do something for someone else....

I was in a chat with a great friend the other night and we were talking about doing things for others. That brings up a discussion: why is it we are the happiest when we are doing something for someone else? Isn't that counter intuitive? I would think so. If you look at things from a logical standpoint, we should think about the stuff we like and then go out and do it! Whether that be golf, sitting around, exercise, etc. We should do what we want. But why is it that when we only look after ourselves that usually translates into being miserable?

I think this deals with our internal desire to do good. I fully believe in each of us, in our spirits, we are inherently good. We want to do the right thing. If you think about it from a religious perspective, we follow commandments and they lead us to doing something for someone else. Think of the commandment to serve your fellow man. That has nothing to do with ones own self if done right. There is the catch though, that when you go out of yourself to serve someone else, you feel good, and not just good, but you carry yourself better, have a better demeanor, and the list goes on. I believe that is by design. I believe that God has made it so service begets more service, and the cycle continues. Unfortunately when we don't follow that cycle, we are generally following a cycle of selfishness. That will never lead to happiness!

I find my greatest happiness comes from serving my family. I love helping Cari in the morning with the house so when she comes downstairs it isn't a mess. I love, well, it isn't service in anyway to do something for Sophie, or Cari for that matter, it is a privilege.

So if you haven't done something out of nowhere for someone else, go out and do it! Go now, because you don't want to have too many yesterdays piling up where you say: "I wish I had...."